Fort Pickering facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fort Pickering
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Winter Island, Salem, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1643 |
| Part of | Winter Island Historic District and Archeological District |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000320 |
| Added to NRHP | February 8, 1973 |
Fort Pickering is an old fort site on Winter Island in Salem, Massachusetts. It was built in the 1600s. This fort was very important for defending Salem Harbor. It served as a military base from the 1600s all the way through World War II.
Building the first fort started in 1643. It was used by the military for hundreds of years. Another fort, Fort Miller in Marblehead, also helped protect Salem's harbor. Fort Pickering is part of the "First System" of U.S. forts. It was named after Colonel Timothy Pickering. He was born in Salem and was a key leader in the Continental Army. Today, you can visit the fort's remains. It is part of the Winter Island Maritime Park.
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Early Days of the Fort (1600s)
When English settlers first arrived in the 1600s, Winter Island was separate from the mainland. It was used by the community for fishing and defense. In 1643, a fort called Fort William began to be built on the island.
Changes in the 1700s
Around 1702, during a war called Queen Anne's War, Fort William was renamed Fort Anne. It was rebuilt around 1706. The Royal Engineers, who were military builders, helped with this. There was some debate about who should pay for the rebuilding.
In 1735, the Massachusetts government gave money to rebuild the fort. It was designed to hold 15 cannons. During the American Revolutionary War, the fort was rebuilt again. It was then known as Fort Number Two by the American Patriots.
In 1794, the city of Salem gave the fort to the U.S. government. A new fort was built there. This was part of the first system of U.S. forts. A report from 1794 said the fort should have eight cannons. It also needed a blockhouse (a strong building) and a magazine (for storing gunpowder). The fort was planned to have one officer and 22 soldiers.
Major repairs were done in 1796. The fort was restored again in 1799. Later in 1799, it was renamed Fort Pickering. This honored Timothy Pickering, who was then the U.S. Secretary of State.
The Fort in the 1800s
The fort was rebuilt in 1800 and 1808. It was made to hold six cannons. This was part of the "second system" of U.S. forts. A report in 1809 said the fort had been repaired. It also mentioned a new barracks (soldiers' living quarters). Another report in 1811 described it as a strong work of brick and earth.
The fort was repaired again during the War of 1812. By 1820, it could hold 11 cannons. In 1864, the city of Salem gave the island to the U.S. government again. This was to help with the American Civil War. The fort's area was made larger. Earth walls called parapets were built outside the stone fort. Gun openings called embrasures were added for better protection. The magazine was also made bigger.
To protect against attacks from land, the back of the fort had two walls. It also had a wet moat (a ditch filled with water). These walls were part of a bombproof shelter. It had small openings called loopholes for soldiers to fire through. Outside the fort, there was a guard house, a hospital, barracks, and other buildings. In 1865, the fort had six 24-pounder cannons. It also had five rifles (another type of cannon). During the Civil War, it was also called Salem Barracks.
The Fort in the 1900s
In 1935, most of Winter Island became the Coast Guard Air Station Salem. This air station had a hangar and a ramp for seaplanes. During World War II, planes from this station flew patrols to look for enemy submarines. They also did search and rescue missions. The air station closed in 1971.
The fort site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. In 1994, the entire area of Winter Island and Fort Pickering was recognized as a historic district. Some parts of the Civil War fort can still be seen today.
